Crimson Aegis leaped effortlessly from one rooftop to another, his princely outfit fluttering behind him like the wings of a hunting falcon. The sprawling cityscape of the Heartless Republic stretched out beneath him, the morning sun casting long shadows between the towering structures. As he approached a particularly tall building, a sudden, sharp prickle of danger ran down his spine.
He landed on the edge of the building, his sharp eyes locking onto the six figures that had suddenly materialized on the rooftops ahead. They moved with the same fluid grace as he did, their forms blending seamlessly into the shadows despite the bright morning light.
Six presences... he quickly assessed, his hand instinctively moving towards the hilt of his weapon.
Two of the figures wore dark, tightly fitted ninja outfits, their faces obscured by black cloths, their eyes sharp and calculating. They moved like whispers in the wind, their steps so silent that even the pigeons resting on the nearby ledges remained undisturbed.
The next two figures wore flowing, sand-colored robes with tightly wrapped keffiyehs, the traditional garb of Middle Eastern assassins. They carried curved blades at their waists, the steel glinting in the sunlight as they shifted their stances, clearly prepared for a fight.
The final two figures stood at the back, their forms wrapped in thick, weathered cloaks with deep hoods that concealed their faces. Their attire resembled the classic assassins of old Europe – shadows given form and purpose. One of them held a crossbow with intricate engravings, while the other's gloved hand rested on a long, slender dagger.
Crimson's mind raced, piecing together the situation. This was no ordinary encounter. These six were clearly seasoned killers, their movements synchronized and purposeful. It was as if they had been waiting for him – or perhaps, tracking him.
He narrowed his eyes, a slight, dangerous smile forming on his lips.
"Assassins? Here in my city?" he thought, his pulse quickening as the thrill of combat began to stir within him. "Interesting."
Crimson paused, his sharp eyes locking onto the six figures that had suddenly appeared in front of him. He quickly assessed their movements – silent, calculated, and deadly – yet something about them felt familiar.
As they emerged from the shadows, the insignia on their outfits caught his attention. The two in ninja-like attire had the Heartless Guild symbol emblazoned in dark thread on their shoulders. The two in flowing, sand-colored Middle Eastern robes also bore the same insignia on the chest of their outfits, the curved blades at their sides glinting menacingly in the sunlight. Lastly, the two in European-style cloaks, hoods pulled low over their faces, had the same symbol subtly stitched into the fabric near their hearts.
"Heartless Guild members," Crimson muttered to himself, a mix of relief and curiosity settling in his chest. "But why would they approach me like this?"
One of the ninjas stepped forward, his voice a low, steady whisper. "Master Crimson, we apologize for the sudden approach. We have orders from the council of High Elders to find you."
Crimson crossed his arms, his crimson eyes narrowing. "From the council? What's going on?"
The one in the Middle Eastern outfit spoke next, his tone respectful but firm. "We have urgent information to share, and we were ordered to deliver it directly to you, no matter the circumstances."
The European cloaked figure stepped forward, his voice carrying a slight accent. "We didn't mean to alarm you, but time is of the essence."
Crimson's expression softened slightly, his sharp gaze still locked on the six figures. He relaxed his stance, realizing that these weren't enemies, but loyal members of his own guild.
"Very well," he said, his tone commanding but calm. "Speak."
The lead ninja stepped forward, his eyes still partially hidden behind his dark mask. "The orders come directly from Master Fury," he said in a low, respectful tone. "He instructed us to find you immediately and deliver this message."
Crimson's eyes sharpened. "What's the message?"
The assassin in the Middle Eastern robes took a step closer, placing a fist over his heart in a formal salute. "There is to be an emergency meeting in the Heartless Palace. Only the six of you – the original high elders."
One of the cloaked figures added, his voice echoing slightly beneath his hood. "We were told to make sure you receive this message without delay. Master Fury said it was of the utmost importance."
Crimson nodded slowly, his mind already racing through the possible reasons for the sudden meeting. "Understood. You've done well."
The six assassins bowed deeply, their movements synchronized like shadows in the wind. Without another word, they vanished back into the maze of rooftops and alleys, as silently as they had appeared.
Crimson straightened, his expression hardening as he turned back toward the Heartless Palace. "An emergency meeting... something must have happened."
He adjusted his grip on the edge of the roof and leapt forward, moving with even greater speed now, the urgency of the message driving him forward.
The six assassins, dressed in the distinct insignia of the Heartless Guild's intelligence agency, vanished as swiftly as they had appeared, blending back into the shadows of the city. Crimson watched them go, his mind already turning to the urgency of the message they had delivered.
He took a deep breath, his sharp eyes locking onto the distant spires of the Heartless Palace. He calculated his path in an instant. "The fastest way back is through the sky."
With a powerful leap, he launched himself into the air, his body slicing through the wind as he soared above the bustling streets and tightly packed rooftops. As he reached the peak of his jump, perfectly aligned with the balcony of his room, he twisted his body mid-air, channeling a burst of mana into his legs. He kicked off the air itself, sending a shockwave below and propelling himself like a missile toward his balcony.
Crimson landed smoothly, the impact of his arrival sending a faint ripple through the balcony's stone floor. He straightened, brushing off the wind from his princely outfit, his mind already focused on the urgent matters awaiting him inside.
He removed his princely outfit and reached for his storage ring, a faint glow emanating as he activated it. His battle gear appeared before him, each piece neatly arranged and perfectly preserved. He quickly donned the armor, the weight of it settling comfortably on his shoulders, a reminder of countless battles fought and won.
Once fully equipped, he adjusted his gauntlets, his mind already focused on the sudden meeting ahead. Without further delay, he exited his room and moved swiftly through the palace corridors toward the war meeting room.
As he entered the war meeting room, the other five high elders were already gathered, their eyes turning to him as the heavy doors closed behind him.
"Ah, Crimson, you're here," Salahadin said with a slight nod, his hand resting casually on the hilt of his sword. "We were just talking about you."
Xiao Li Jing leaned back in her chair, a playful grin on her face. "We knew you'd show up quickly. Always the first into the fray."
Irina crossed her arms, a slight smile breaking through her usually stern expression. "It's good to see you, Crimson."
Moonlight Fury, standing in the corner like a silent shadow, gave a small nod of acknowledgment, while Sir Pendragon simply offered a reassuring smile.
Crimson took a moment to meet each of their gazes, his eyes sharp and focused. "I came as soon as I got the message. What's the situation?"
Irina stepped forward, her eyes sharp and calculating as she unfolded one of the maps on the table. "There have been unusual movements near the border regions. Reports of strange gatherings and monster activity escalating. It could be a sign of something bigger brewing — maybe linked to the return of the players."
Moonlight Fury, who had been quietly observing from the shadows, spoke up next, his voice low and deliberate. "Our intelligence confirms an increase in suspicious activities. We suspect a faction may be trying to exploit the current chaos for their own gain."
Sir Pendragon nodded in agreement, his demeanor steady and reassuring. "The balance of power is delicate. We need to act quickly and decisively to prevent any uprising or rebellion from escalating."
Crimson's gaze hardened as he moved closer to the table, scanning the maps and reports. "So, this emergency meeting was called because the peace of the Heartless Republic might be at risk. We need to coordinate our resources, gather more intelligence, and prepare for any threats."
Salahadin folded his arms, meeting Crimson's determined look. "Exactly. That's why we've summoned only the original six high elders. We need a united front, combining our strengths and knowledge."
Xiao Li Jing tapped her fingers on the table, her usual wit replaced with rare seriousness. "The return of the players has stirred the world. We're no longer just guardians of the past but the key to its future."
Moonlight Fury glanced around the room. "Every move we make now will shape what comes next. We can't afford to be divided."
Crimson nodded, feeling the weight of responsibility settle over him. "Then let's not waste any more time. Tell me everything you've gathered so far."
Crimson continue to speak, then looked at the others with a serious expression. "There's something else you all first should know, something I discovered this morning."
The elders turned their attention fully to him, curiosity and concern flickering in their eyes.
"There's something important I discovered at the National Agency of Adventurers," he began. "They have a Status Appraisal Scroll available there, it's a way to check our current stats and levels now that the old system is gone."
He paused, letting the significance sink in.
"When I used the scroll on myself, I found out something surprising: the level cap has not only increased, it appears to have been completely removed. The level limit is now infinite."
The room grew quiet as the others processed this news. Crimson continued,
"This means there's no longer a maximum level we can reach. We can keep growing stronger without limits."
He looked around at the faces of his comrades, serious and thoughtful.
"This changes the whole game. We need to understand what this means for us, for the players, and for the world itself."
A brief silence followed as everyone absorbed this unexpected news.
"This changes everything," Salahadin finally said, his voice steady but grave. "Without a level cap, the power gap between players could grow endlessly. We must consider how this will affect the balance in our world."
Xiao Li Jing nodded. "The pace of leveling will be faster than ever. Those who adapt quickest will dominate."
Moonlight Fury added quietly, "And with no limits, the stakes are higher. This could invite new threats, both from players and from forces we don't yet understand."
Sir Pendragon clenched his fist. "We need to prepare accordingly. Our strategies, our defenses, and our alliances must evolve."
Crimson met their gazes firmly. "That's why we have to act now. We're facing a new era and only by standing united can we hope to survive it."